Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) is an important contributor to premature vascular disease', blindness2, renal failure3 and lower limb amputation.4 Morbidity and mortality from NIDDM is under-reported as NIDDM is frequently undiagnosed, the diagnosis often being excluded from death certificates5 and hospital discharge summaries.6 Despite the cumulative incidence of diabetic microvascular disease being greater in insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), the much higher prevalence of NIDDM results in more morbidity occurring in NIDDM.'